12. The Lone Wolf's Date…

"No"

"Why not?"

"Because….I-I don't like her that way!"

O'Connell and Irvine were arguing since morning. O'Connell was convinced that Irvine needed to go on a date with Moonbay. Irvine, of course, disagreed.

"I think ya'll are meant for each other!" said O'Connell.

"Why do you care anyway? It's not like we know you that well. Who are you to say that we are 'meant for each other'?"

O'Connell looked at Irvine. Should he tell him the real reason he was doing this was because he didn't want Van and Fiona to keep spreading rumors that him and Hermann were gay? No, he thought, I should make it seem like I really like the idea.

"When ever I see you two together, it seems like ya'll are in another world. A world that ya'll can only get to together." O'Connell said. "I'm drawn to romance, I guess. But…I think blossoming romances is what gets me."

"Cut the crap." said Irvine. "Worry about your own love life why don'tcha?"

"Oh, common! You know you want to!"

"Even if I did want to….go out with Moonbay…she's still hung over… McMann…" Irvine said sadly.

"Dude how do you know? I figgered that she must like you! I mean… she laughs at all the jokes you tell….even though they aren't funny."

"Maybe she just hasa bad sense of humo- hey! My jokes are too funny!"

"Dude whatever. Hey look, just ask her out."

"I…I don't know how…" Irvine said slowly.

"Just ask her out for a picnic then. Simple and can be just friendly." said O'Connell.

"Alright…fine. But…I don't have a picnic basket."

"I do. And a picnic blanket."

"Can I make fireworks?"

"You're gonna be in a forest. You'll catch a tree on fire. Besides you don't have time to. You gotta go take a shower."

"Why?"

"Because you smell horrible. You want to smell nice for her."

"That's stupid. She doesn't mind. And why can't I make fireworks? She doesn't know I'm going to ask her out."

"Uhhh…heheheh…."

"You already told her to meet me there, didn't you O'Connell?"

"Don't be mad. It was Van's idea to ask her ahead of time. He was sure you would've said yes right off the back! Man was he wrong…it took me FOREVER to get you to say yes."

Irvine shook his head. He told O'Connell that he would go take a shower, if he would take care of the food. O'Connell agreed because he knew an awesome cook, and the fact that Van said that Irvine had to be nice and clean.

It was an hour after they split up when O'Connell started pacing.

He was supposed to be here by now, thought O'Connell.

O'Connell looked at his watch. Irvine was supposed to be at the lake five minuets before. He was about to lose hope when he saw Irvine walking toward him. O'Connell ran to Irvine. He was about to ask him why he was late when he stopped.

"Irvine…?" started O'Connell.

"What?" he asked, walking past O'Connell.

"You didn't take a shower did you?"

"I didn't have time. I had to finish my fireworks."

"I thought I told you no fireworks!"

"Actually, you said that I didn't have enough time to make them. Well, I think I used my time wisely. I mean, I made more than I thought I would've. Not to mention the fact that I made a really big one!"

"You sound so proud of yourself…."

Irvine shrugged. He continued to the forest.

*************************************************************

The next day O'Connell awoke to find that he stayed up all night to see how the date went. He got up and stretched.

"Ah, O'Connell!" yelled Irvine waving.

"Oh….how'd it go?" he yawned.

"Oh great! We liked setting off the fireworks. Here….it's your picnic basket."

Irvine handed O'Connell part of a basket, which was covered in ash and pitch black. It was clearly destroyed.

"Th-that was my grandmother's basket!" cried O'Connell.

"Oh…sorry!" said Irvine, and he walked off. Leaving O'Connell behind, crying.